Clashes are inevitable in life. Even in the laid-back world of student life, you will have problems, friction and personality mismatches. Perhaps her boyfriend stays too often, using electricity and water and doesn’t pay his way. Perhaps one of the housemates never washes up or cooks. Perhaps she uses the washing machine every day for just 2-3 items. Maybe somebody keeps leaving the doors unlocked or leaves a mess everywhere. Whatever the problem, there is a solution for it.
House Rules and a Roster
Before you even get to the stage of having to deal with a problem housemate, ensure there are mutually agreed house rules. This way, everybody knows their duties and responsibilities within the house. They will also know what they can and cannot do regarding respecting the boundaries of other housemates. If everyone has agreed to abide by them, they cannot later plead ignorance. There should be clear directives on visitor, for example how long they can stay and at what point they start paying their way.
Take Them to One Side
If the issue can be handled delicately and without involving anybody else first, that course of action should be pursued initially. If you call a house meeting too often they’ll think you’re a petty bureaucrat. If you challenge them in front of the others too often, they’ll think you’re a bully. Use good judgement in each case. If handled wrongly, no matter how justified your action, you may find the other housemates turn against you instead.
House Meetings
It’s best to deal with friction before it arises. It’s too easy to get carried away with passive-aggressive behaviour in trying to make a point with the poor behaviour of another housemate. Perhaps speak to one of the other housemates about whether they feel there is a problem and decide together whether there should be a house meeting. There is never any harm in getting a second opinion. Any house meeting over friction should be handled delicately and allow the other person to have their say too.
Getting the Landlord Involved
Use this step with extreme caution. Only pursue owner involvement when there is a risk of the group being penalised (damage to the property for example). It should always be a last resort. You’re adults in an adult environment and should treat the situation in a calm, mature and adult manner. That said, there will be cases where you feel you have no other option but to get the landlord or the agency involved in a problem. Ideally, you should have the backing of all the other housemates in this. It ought to be a joint decision.